Arun Neelamkavil

Independent Director & Advisor

---

Arun is currently an Independent Director to Financial Services firms. He has extensive International Investment Management experience across Technology, Operations, Product Development and Distribution. He acts as a Business Advisor to clients with a detailed understanding of key service providers in the investment ecosystem, having worked with multiple clients on how to build and grow effective, efficient and robust organisations. He previously worked at Credit Suisse where he co-lead EMEA Prime Brokerage Consulting driving their client facing product offering and more recently lead Prime Brokerage Sales at Citigroup. Arun hold a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from the University of North Carolina and is a Scholar & Gold Medalist in Computer Engineering of Trinity College Dublin.

---

Stephen Tennant

CEO, Grant Thornton

---

Having failed in his dream to become a professional footballer in Scotland, Stephen began his career with PWC in Aberdeen, before a 10-year stint in Leeds with Baker Tilly, where he specialised in insolvency. Following a 2 years with a Fintech start-up, he then joined Grant Thornton Ireland in 2009. Having founded (in 2017) and subsequently led their Financial Services Advisory offering, he will take up the role of CEO in January 2024. He will also sit on the board of Grant Thornton International. As a result of his career to date, Stephen is an expert on ​insolvency in Ireland and is one of Ireland's leading Financial Services advisors. He is also a proven leader, with a pacesetter mindset and a strong focus on people, culture, quality and growth. Stephen is a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants UK (FCCA UK), a qualified UK insolvency practitioner and he is also authorised by the Insolvency Service of Ireland to carry on practice as a insolvency practitioner. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree (BA) in Business Studies from Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen. Aside from his work, Stephen is an avid tennis and golf fan, and lives in a sports-mad household with his wife, Grainne and their 3 daughters.

---

Karolina Coates

Head of Design, BoatyardX (An Ergo Company)

---

Karolina has two decades of experience in designing and building client-centric products. She’s heading a design function at BoatyardX (An Ergo Company), where she helps clients rapidly turn ideas into business value. In her role, Karolina spearheads design strategies that elevate user experience and drive innovation. Her leadership fosters collaborative environments, inspiring cross-functional teams to deliver exceptional solutions aligned with business objectives. Karolina is a thought leader at the intersection of design, technology, and business strategy. She shares her stories with passion and enthusiasm and provides valuable insights into creating successful and impactful digital products, including for the financial services industry.

---

Sarah de Lagarde

Global Head of Corporate Affairs - Janus Henderson

---

Sarah de Lagarde is the Global Head of Corporate Affairs at global asset manager Janus Henderson and a member of the JH Foundation board. She is also a mother of two, author, motivational speaker, and double amputee. In August 2022, Sarah climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. A month later, she was involved in a devastating tube incident on the London Underground that changed her life forever. Being on top of the world one day and hitting rock bottom the next, forced Sarah to completely redesign her life. Despite losing an arm and a leg, she remains committed to inspiring others and helping create awareness around the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Sarah has been fitted with state-of-the-art prosthetics, including an AI powered bionic arm. She returned to work and is a regular media spokesperson, inspiring everyone she meets with her story and her overwhelming positivity and gratitude for life.

---

Ciaran Fennessy

Senior Vice President - Head of Strategy and Transformation for Global Funds Services Technology, Citi

---

An innovative technology leader, Ciaran has led AI initiatives that have resulted in increased organisational efficiency and enhanced client experiences. Throughout his career in global investment banks, Ciaran has showcased leadership by successfully executing AI initiatives, large technology programs and high-profile client onboarding programs. Ciaran is well-versed in the challenges and opportunities presented by AI technologies and is a knowledgeable and confident educator in this space. Ciaran has a passion for technology and the future of artificial intelligence, however, he approaches it with a thoughtful consideration of its potential risks and ethical implications. Ciaran’s scientific background fuels his curiosity, and he actively contributes to the field through writing thought-leadership articles on AI and also staying keenly focused on the field of quantum computing.

---

Stephen Loughnane

Head of Transformation and Innovation Private Capital, Northern Trust

---

Stephen Loughnane is the Head of Transformation and Innovation in Northern Trusts Private Capital Administration group. With over 20 years of experience in fund services, Stephen has developed a deep understanding of the intersection between business, operations, and technology by working in the 3 distinct areas. Throughout his career, he has been driven by a passion for technology innovation and its opportunities to transform the way we do business. His experience in fund services has provided him with a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities that exist within this complex and highly regulated industry. During his career, he has successfully led a range of programs which includes new technology innovations, robotics implementation, client onboardings, service provider transitions, data migrations, analytics software and regulatory projects all focused on either enhancing efficiency, reducing risk or improving user experience. He has a proven track record of leading cross-functional teams to implement new business strategies and technologies. His idea of a success delivery is rooted in opportunity, innovation and collaboration with a deep understanding of the latest technology, the opportunities they present and mapping that to organisational strategy.

---

Joan Kehoe

Founder and Chief Executive Officer at alchelyst

---

Joan Kehoe has spent her career building businesses in the Fund Administration space . Most recently she completed a fundraise and licensing process for Alchelyst, a full services Alternatives Administrator, where she is Founder and CEO. Between 2016 and 2022 she was Managing Director, Global Head of Alternative Services for JP Morgan where she was charged with transforming the business which was successfully completed during her tenure. She started her career in 1984 at the Investment Bank of Ireland where she worked in various client servicing roles. She joined Morgan Grenfell in 1990 as Shareholder Services Manager and moved to PFPC International in 1993. She became CEO of that business in 1996 and grew the business to over €120bn AUA before leaving to set up Quintillion, a privately owned Hedge Fund Servicing business which she ran between 2006 and 2016. The privately owned business was successfully sold to USBANK Corp.

---

Chetan Agarwal

Senior Director, Global Head of Middle office Operations, Apex Fund Services

---

Chetan Agarwal is a Sr.Director- Global Head of Middle office Operations at Apex Fund Services. He is responsible for middle office operations globallly. Before joining apex, Chetan has led a variety of positions at BNY Mellon in the past decade, most recently as Head of IBOR India. He was responsible for implementation, client onboarding, Asset Management and innovation in Middle office operations in India. He has also been instrumental in setting up Fund accounting services in India back in 2016. Prior to BNY Mellon, Chetan led service delivery and operational excellence for Fund Accounting business in State Street Syntel Pvt Ltd. He has over 19+ years of experience in accounting and financial services management. He has also led various Employee Resource Group and has been part of Diversity and Inclusion Council. He is a certified Independent Directory by Ministry of corporate affairs India & is serving as advisory board member for ISBR, B School in Bangalore. He is happily married to Sonia Agarwal and together they are proud parents of a daughter and a son.

---

Niall Esler

Partner and Head of Regulatory, Walkers Ireland

---

Niall is based in Walkers' Ireland office where he is a partner and head of the Regulatory and Risk Advisory Group. Niall specialises in Irish and EU financial services regulation, advising domestic and international firms including asset managers, credit institutions, investment firms and fintechs. Niall sits on the Irish Funds Investment Firms Working Group, the Blockchain Ireland Legal and Regulatory Working Group and contributes to the Law Society of Ireland Diploma in Financial Law in relation to MiFID II and Investment Funds.

---

Aditya Mohan

Senior Scientific Officer, National Standards Authority of Ireland

---

Aditya Mohan is a Senior Scientific Officer at the National Standards Authority of Ireland where he manages the National Standards Committee of AI experts to ISO and CEN. He is a member of several of the Government of Ireland’s Working Groups on: the European AI Act negotiations, the Responsible AI working Group, the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs for AI and has been nominated as the Irish representative to ‘Global Partnership on AI’. Aditya is a contributor to the European ‘ICT Rolling Plan’ and a Standards Expert for the HS Booster programme of the European Commission. He was also a contributor to NSAI’s ‘Top Team on Standards for AI’, Aditya was a Solution Architect for IBM Watson AI Platform before joining NSAI.

---

Aisling O’Carroll

VP Financial Services, IDA Ireland

---

Aisling O’Carroll is Co-Head of the Investment Management portfolio, for IDA Ireland, the Irish Government Agency charged with attracting Foreign Direct Investment into Ireland. She supports international financial services companies to grow and develop their business from Ireland across Funds Servicing, Asset Management, Aircraft Leasing, Private Equity/Non-Bank Finance and Speciality Services. Ms O’Carroll has over 20 years’ experience in the public and private sector working in Ireland and overseas with many of the world’s leading MNC’s across a range of industry sectors such as Financial Services, Information and Communications Technologies and Life Sciences.

---

Eoin Motherway

INED to Funds & FinTechs

---

Post qualification as a chartered accountant with Deloitte, Eoin spent six years working for the main Broker/Dealer entity of Goldman Sachs in London, holding the positions of Senior Accounting Officer and European Funding Controller. The second season of his career was twelve years running Investment Fund Valuations in Ireland, Luxembourg and the UK for State Street and BNY Mellon. This included Mutual Funds, Alternatives & ETFs. His more recent season, was to successfully co-found a digital platform called - The Asset Management Exchange (AMX). He led the Irish team building its products, Funds and Management Company to $60Bn in AUM, acting as its CEO and Executive Director. In addition to being a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, he holds certifications in FinTech and is a Certified Investment Funds Director. He was Chair of the Financial Services Forum, a Council Member of Irish Funds and continues to serve as a member of the Funds Advisory Board to the Institute of Bankers. Today, he is an Independent Chair and INED to Funds, Management Companies, Admin Companies, Fin/RegTechs, EMIs, VASPs, PISPs & AISPs. He sits on the Investor Compensation Company for the Department of Finance & the Western Development Commission for the Irish Government. He is an ardent advocate for Industry Regionalisation and known champion for diversity, equity & inclusion, notably in neurodiversity and the field of autism.

---

Terri Dempsey

CEO and Country Head at State Street Ireland

---

Terri Dempsey is senior vice president, CEO of State Street Fund Services Ireland Limited (SSFSIL), and Country Head - Ireland. In her role as Country Head – Ireland, Terri oversees the management of the largest fund services provider in Ireland, servicing assets over US$1.7 trillion, managed by the world’s leading investment management firms and financial houses. Before assuming the Country Head role, Terri was Chief Operating Officer with operational responsibility for State Street Ireland’s mutual fund business. With over 25 years’ experience in Ireland’s financial services sector, prior to joining State Street in 2005, Terri spent two years in Bermuda with Bank of New York. Terri is the executive sponsor of inclusion, diversity, and equity activities for State Street in Ireland. Terri is a member of the Irish Funds Council, a fund industry association in Ireland. Terri holds a B.A. in humanities from University College Dublin and a postgraduate diploma in business. She is also a certified investment fund director.

---

Nicholas Blake-Knox

Partner and head of Asset Management and Investment Funds, Walkers Ireland

---

Nicholas is based in Walkers' Ireland office where he is a partner and head of the Asset Management and Investment Funds group in Ireland. Nicholas has in excess of twenty years' experience in the area of asset management and investment funds and has worked in both legal and finance related positions during this time both in Ireland and the UK. Nicholas is currently Vice-Chair of Irish Funds and is also a member of the Advisory Committee of the Certified Investment Fund Director Institute.

---

Terrance J. O’Malley

Investment Industry Executive, Strategist, Advisor

---

Terrance J. O’Malley has over 25 years of experience in the private fund industry focusing on executive functions, organizational structure, law and compliance. He is a trusted adviser helping employers and clients resolve complex middle- and back-office issues. He has also served on several industry working groups and committees. As a leading practitioner, Terrance is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and a contributor to top publications on industry trends and best practices. He has published dozens of articles on asset management topics and co-authored two influential books, The Insider’s Guide to Hedge Funds: Successfully Managing the Middle and Back Office (2018) and the Investment Adviser’s Legal and Compliance Guide (2004 – 2023). Terrance graduated from Boston College and Cornell Law School, and began his professional career as an enforcement attorney with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. He previously served as Chief Administrative Officer, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at Blue Ridge Capital and currently serves in an executive capacity at a private fund asset management firm.

---

Jac Dunne

CEO of Dimply

---

Jac Dunne is the CEO of Dimply. With an MBA from Business School and over 30 years of experience, Jac has been instrumental in helping organisations develop and execute effective strategies. She has held high-level positions at renowned financial institutions such as HSBC, Bank of New York Mellon (BNYM), and Bank of America (BOA). Jac's expertise lies in the financial services and fintech industry, where she has proven to be a qualified specialist, coach, mentor, and negotiator. Her track record speaks for itself, showcasing her accomplishments in strategy, governance, change management, and business development. With a global perspective and diverse sector experience, she brings a unique approach to business growth and relationship building. Her management philosophy is centred on empowerment, and a balanced focus on client and team needs, setting her apart in the industry. Jac Dunne’s commitment to charity work is not just a pastime but a deeply ingrained part of her life. Her belief in equal opportunities for all drives her to create a more equitable society, and this passion for social progress resonates in all aspects of her life and work. Jac is not just a CEO but also an avid outdoor enthusiast. Her deep passion for hiking and cycling is not just a hobby but a way to connect with the natural world and maintain a sense of balance. She loves the sense of adventure and the opportunity to challenge herself physically and mentally.

---

Simon Gillis

Head of Product Operations

---

Simon has 16 years of experience working in the Fund Industry, across Fund Administration & FinTech. His career started out in Fund Accounting Valuations with Bank of New York Mellon before moving on to Link Asset Services. Roles at various levels within Fund Accounting led to Simon managing the Systems and Support Services team. In this capacity, he spearheaded initiatives to optimize the overall Nav process through the implementation of specialised teams and automated systems, while also managing vendor relationships. Simon is currently Head of Product Operations after joining Fund Recs as Senior Operations Manager in 2019. He helped build out a Client Solutions team that now consists of 14 people before moving into Product. Simon is responsible for the capturing, prioritising, and testing phases within the development process, focussing on the flow from ‘request to deployment’ along with Product Management, Product Design, and the Development team.

---

David Delehanty

Group Manager at Link Fund Administrators (Ireland) Limited

---

David Delehanty is a Group Manager of Link Fund Administrators (Ireland) Limited, a Waystone Group Company. David has 20 years’ in in the Funds industry and has worked previously with UBS Fund Services (now MUFG) and PFPC International Limited (now part of BNYM). David has a BSc. (Business Mgmt) degree from TCD, a Professional Diploma in Investment Fund Services from The Institute of Bankers (UCD) and has previously been a member of the Irish Funds Hedge Fund working group.

---